V Australia: US and back for $1199

[serfty]

New airline V Australia starts price war with Qantas | Herald Sun

Hmm... A Qantas sales "finished" Yesterday - this could bring those prices down.

Geoff Easdown

December 17, 2008 12:00am

INFANT airline V Australia will fire the first shots in a new ticket war with Qantas today by offering an ultra-low Melbourne-Los Angeles return fare of just $1199.

The bargain offer, which ends on December 29, undercuts by $810 the cheapest fare Qantas charged yesterday on the high-profit LA route.

The tickets are for economy class travel between March 1 and October 24 next year and include the cost of travel on the domestic leg between Melbourne and Sydney.

V Australia, ... was forced to delay because of a long strike ...

The maiden Sydney-LA flight will take off on February 27.

...

V Australia has ordered seven extended-range Boeing 777s, the same aircraft that Emirates uses on its Australia-Dubai route.

The V Australia planes will be configured into three classes.

...

Mr Swift said V Australia would celebrate Australia Day by taking delivery on January 26 of its first aircraft.

...

 

[docjames]

Does it include or exclude +++ ?

 

[serfty]

V Australia > Home

Inclusive of "Tax", Exclusive of Credit Card Surcharges

 

[serfty]

... Inclusive of "Tax", Exclusive of Credit Card Surcharges

I did a dummy booking and it came to $1198.65 with the CC charge ...

 

[AlphaVictor]

Qantas will most probably match. Expect it after business hours tonight. (They usually do this to encourage direct bookings rather than go via a travel agent - that's why so many offers are released on Friday after 5pm, saves them paying commission)

With so much publicity on Virgin, they can't afford not to match

USA price war!! Don't ya just love it!

 

[serfty]

This morning, some specific March MEL/LAX return flights I am interested in were costing ~ $1993, now they are $1861 (same flights).

 

[ANstar]

That is a pretty good price - especially for departures for the NH Summer

 

[clifford]

That is a pretty good price - especially for departures for the NH Summer

Yes, but who wants to sit in an uncomfortable seat with no "frills" being harangued by brainless Virgin girlies for 14 hours.

Not me, that's for sure.

 

[Saab34]

Yes, but who wants to sit in an uncomfortable seat with no "frills" being harangued by brainless Virgin girlies for 14 hours.

Not me, that's for sure.

VA are a full service airline.

Do agree though, those VA girls will drive me nuts after a while..

 

[winetraveller]

VA are a full service airline.

Do agree though, those VA girls will drive me nuts after a while..

I'm in the dark here, what's the deal with the VA girls?

 

[trooper]

No way of knowing how comfortable (or un...?) it'll be - waiting on the first TR!! ... but I've been looking at it for a few friends as the timings are right...

(I'm flying over on NZ where I have status and a good shot at an upgrade!!:mrgreen: 100% this year.......)

We go to shooting competitions... so have a few specific concerns... VA's firearms/ammo policy is "standard".. so that's a good start..

Baggage though..... 2 pieces...but... totalling 32 kg max....

Probably have to suggest the two of them take an extra bag and split the $135 fee... gun case alone is generally 18-20kg.... and we have specialist clothing/footwear for the sport... not light either!

Still.. even with that the price is fine... I just don't think I want to fly with them!

 

[Mal]

Yes, but who wants to sit in an uncomfortable seat with no "frills" being harangued by brainless Virgin girlies for 14 hours.

Huh? The airline hasn't even flown yet. Unless you're involved with recruitment and training for their staff - you have no idea who they've employed.

 

[stuartfaz]

I'm in the dark here, what's the deal with the VA girls?

I think they're employing the old 'DJ girl' stereotype here. You know, nice friendly, enthusiastic...sometimes overly so...

TBH I wouldn't mind being stuck on a plane for 14 hours with some of the DJ girls I've flown with...but, of course, YMMV

 

[Saab34]

Would have thought QF might have responded by now...

 

[Soundguy]

I'm in the dark here, what's the deal with the VA girls?

I think the reference is to the airheads that DJ employs. But then given time they will grow up to be grumpy QF biddy's....

 

[clifford]

Huh? The airline hasn't even flown yet. Unless you're involved with recruitment and training for their staff - you have no idea who they've employed.

But I do know Virgin and I do know a few of the current FA's and I am aware of Virgin's recruitment policies. And I also should say I know Brett Godfrey.

What do you think?

 

[ANstar]

Yes, but who wants to sit in an uncomfortable seat with no "frills" being harangued by brainless Virgin girlies for 14 hours.

Not me, that's for sure.

Virgin Blue is no "frills" but VA is a full service airline, so not sure how you can call them no "frills"

From knowing a couple of people who got in at VA (one of them in their late 40's) and the other an FA who has moved across from Emirates and certainly not "brainless" I think the recruitment policy is a little different from Virgin Blue's.

 

[AlphaVictor]

Let's hope it does differ from DJ. I don't think I'll be able to stand a 13hr giggle, joke, "gnarly dude" -athon to and from LAX. (1hr to OOL is enough)

 

[Mal]

But I do know Virgin and I do know a few of the current FA's and I am aware of Virgin's recruitment policies. And I also should say I know Brett Godfrey.

What do you think?

Seeing and chatting to various DJ staffers, I can tell their recruitment policies have changed dramatically in the last couple of years. VA isn't going to have "AA/United" aged staffers, but it also won't be full of giggly and brainless 18 year olds.

 

[comint]

Virgin Blue is no "frills"...

I don't think this is a fair categorisation. We really only have 1 "no frills" operator in Australia, and that is Tiger!

All the other majors; Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin, Rex and (as of next year) Skywest offer some sort of Lounge access, all make use of a loyalty program for frequent fliers, all offer some sort of interlining (even on JQ in its own special/limited way).

It's also important to recognize if your origin/destination are key secondary cities, like - Gold Coast, Newcastle*, Sunshine Coast... Virgin could offer THE BETTER frilled service! (with "full service connections" in SYD or BNE*; including misconnect management, if/when things go pear shaped.) And if you are a "mid-level customer" connecting from major domestic cities (in fact anywhere network-wide), only DJ offers "premium economy" all the way on domestic flights!


As for Virgin Brand Businesses employment practices, I will NEVER FORGET the reports about the FA who screamed “we’re all gonna die” after hitting some turbulence mid-flight across the Atlantic. What a disgrace.